Lonnie Ali thinks it's a tragedy that her husband Muhammad Ali's Parkinson's disease means he no longer has the voice to stand up for what he believes in.
Lonnie Ali says it's a "tragedy" the world can no longer see the
great man her husband Muhammad Ali is because of his Parkinson's
disease.
Lonnie - who married Muhammad in 1986 and is his fourth wife - knows the
world remembers her spouse as a fast-talking champion in the boxing
ring and a champion of human rights but she insists he is still the same
man with the same principles he just doesn't have the voice to stand up
for what he believes because it has been diminished by his illness.
Speaking to The Times newspaper, she said: "There are many times today
that I wish his voice was stronger. That (he had that) ability to stand
up and say things. That person is still in his belly ... the tragedy is
that his illness means the world can't see it."
Lonnie also opened up on what life with Muhammad, 74, is like and
revealed he loves watching himself on YouTube, and enjoys reminiscing on
his greatest fights and memorable interviews.
She said: "He does have advanced Parkinson's disease so he is
challenged, but he still is a positive person. We try to keep him
engaged and connected to people, especially his family. The nature of
the illness is that you become apathetic. The thing he loves most is
watching himself on YouTube. He becomes so intense. It's as if he hasn't
seen it before."
Numerous artefacts from Ali's life career are currently on show at The
O2 in London for the 'I Am The Greatest: Muhammad Ali' exhibit.
Some of the most notable items on display include the 'People's Choice'
robe presented to the former world heavyweight champion by Elvis Presley
before his fight against Joe Bugner in 1973, signed boots from his 1976
fight with Jimmy Young and the glove which his trainer Angelo Dundee
deliberately split before the fifth round of his infamous 1963 fight
with British pugilist Henry Cooper to buy Ali sometime after he was
knocked down in the fourth round.